that means if you want better politics, gushing the american people, it's not enough to change the congressperson or president while we have to change the system to reflect our better selves. we have to end the practice of drawing congressional districts of politics can pick the voters. [applause]

[applause] this is america. we want to make it easier for people to participate. over the course of this year ii intend to travel the country and push for reform to do just that. but. but i can do these things on my own. change is not political process and not just who

gets elected but having elected will only happen to the american people demand. it depends on you. that is what is meant by government of, by, and for the people. what i am suggesting is hard it is a lot easier to be cynical. to accept the change is not possible in politics is hopeless and the problem is all the folks who were elected don't care and they believe that our voices and actions don't matter. but if we give up now that we forsake a better future. those with money and power

will gain greater control over the decisions that could send a young soldier to work for allow another economic disaster or roll back the rights and voting rights that generations of americans fought for. and then has frustration grows there will be voices urging us to fall back into our respective tribes, to scapegoat fellow citizens who don't look. like us vote like we do our share the same background. we cannot afford to go down that path. it will not deliver the economy, produce the security and most of all it contradicts everything that makes us than the of the world. so my fellow americans,

whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one or no party will you support of my agenda all worked as hard as you could against our collective futures depend upon your willingness to uphold your duties as a society. to vote, speak out, stand up for others, especially the week and vulnerable knowing that each of us is only here because somebody somewhere stood up for us. [applause] we need every american to stay active in public life and not just during election time.

so that our public life reflects the goodness and decency that i see in the american people every single day. it is not easy. our brand of democracy is hard. but i can promise that a little over a year from now when i no longer hold this office will be right there with you as a citizen, inspired by those voices of fairness vision, of great and good humor and kindness that have helped america travel so far. voices that help us see ourselves not 1st and foremost as black or white or asian or latino, not as gay or straight, immigrant or nativeborn, not democrat or republican but as americans 1st down by common creed, voices doctor

king believed to have the final word voices of unarmed truth and unconditional love. and they are out there. they don't seek a lot of fanfare. they are busy doing the work this country needs. i see them everywhere i travel in this incredible country. in your daily acts of citizenship i see our future i see it the worker on the assembly line who clocks extra shifts i see it in the dreamer who stays upstays up

late at night to finish her science project. the extra supplies that she mombought because she knows that young girl might someday cure disease. i see it in the american his service time the protester determined to prove that justice matters in the end walking the beat treating everybody with respect doing the brave, quite work of keeping us safe. i see it in the soldier because almost everything that he can run a marathon.

the community lines up to cheer them on. as the sun who finds the courage i see it in the elderly woman who will wait in line to cast your vote as long as she has to. the new citizen to cast his vote for the 1st time. every vote should count because each of them in different ways how much that precious right. that is the america i know. that is the country we love. clear eyed, bighearted, undaunted by challenge, optimistic, unarmed truth

and unconditional love will have the final word. that is what makes me so hopeful about our future. i believe in you, the american people. appmack and that is why stand here as confident as i've ever been that the state of our union. thank you. countless. [applause]

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>> this one you should probably -- [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> and as you can see the chamber has let out. on your screen now on c-span2's statuary hall which is about 37 steps from where the president just delivered his final state of the union speech. he went a little over an hour. where we are now is full of press, members of congress. this served as the house

chamber up until 1857. this evening we will be talking with members of congress. reaction from what they heard. if you want to watch governor nikki haley go over to c-span. she is doing a republican response. in our republican response will kickoff with representative bill heidegger represents the 2nd district of michigan. congressman huizinga,. >> the pres. was much more casual, approachable,casual, approachable, and maybe that had something to do with it. trying to attack the scourge of opiates and harrowing and those kinds of things. there are positive things there. i thought it was very much a campaign like speech. a bit of us in wonder at the end. there is a lot of notes of

hope and change and a calla call for a better washington dc and a better political process. the irony was that he has kind of led the charge not allowing that change to happen in washington. it is kind of interesting town. >> when he talked about the economy and the fact that manufactured jobs are up, the automobile industry is up to me you are up in michigan. >> is true. is it because of government and what they have done or despite what government is done or combination of those things. trying to have his cake and eat it too, people don't feel it in their wallet leather pocketbook and a lot of that is a monitor policy. i share the monitor policy. i watch with the fed does closely, and in many ways we have created this wage

inequality that the president was talking about. liquidity is there for big companies and government, not for small business people or you or i have citizens. that has been a problem. >> what is the economy like in grand rapids? >> it is doing very well. the office furniture is doing well, tourism is up. we have a healthy agriculture and they good strong automotive industry. my family is in construction. they are doing well but everyone feels a little tentative. hopefully we can solidify that. >> we appreciate your time and will let you go talk to the local folks. >> we are in statuary hall, the old house chamber, 18071857. the chamber was used in the states are each love to put two statutes in statuary

hall but it has gotten so crowded that they have had to extend statuary hall now included in the rotunda as well. this is your 1st date of the union. >> what he said you like? >> well, the end was pleasant. democracy requires kindness and unconditional love. the prior strands did not include those. there are plenty of barbs across the board. i found the whole piece very contradictory on that. and so if he wants to reach across -- i have been here a year. come on over and play goose and socialize want to start building bonds. and i have been here one. he has been here seven.

and so on the economic front look at the data. the proof is in the pudding. it's not looking too good. 19 trillion in debt. you have to be saying no. and so the seams will pop. they pop on the debt or 19 trillion from saying yes to everything which goes to the next generation. it is easy to talk ethics, that is unethical to throw that on the next generation and then all of our programs are insolvent by 2034. we have a hundred trillion in unfunded liability that we cannot afford. if we don't reform soon the next generation will get them. i wish you would tackle the biggest problems. paul ryan will start

tackling them big time command we will try to get those numbers moving in the right direction command we could use the pres.'s help, but he did not address the biggest numbers and problem we had tonight. >> one of his lies was that food stamp recipients did not cause the recession, big corporations and banks constant. >> and that is what i'm getting at. that is a silly line that is a partisan barb.a partisan barb. no one thinks food stamps caused the financial crisis. everyone knows fannie and freddie were issued part of it. the job of bankers when you used to have free market is to assess risk. bankers no longer had to assess risk. they do the mortgage get their feet, make a little bit of money and put all the risk over on fannie and freddie. and that just goes to make sure that the shadow banking problems. the underlying huge problem

was 1st in the real estate market and then it spread over in the financial market. without fannie and freddie when you lose track of free market and have big government running everything and if you notice on everything the government should help entrepreneurs be entrepreneurs. it is almost a contradiction in terms. the idea that the government is going to help the entrepreneurs be entrepreneurs comeau we are going to be like every nation in the history of nations that have failed and go in the wrong direction. >> that was the same message that help to knock off the majority leader of the primary. what is the pressure like within your caucus to go along get along support the party? >> you here this.

when into cooperating unify learn how to govern. but i have a few issues. if you listen to the american people, the top three issues for the electric right now our foreign policy, terrorism, national security and the economy. and so the key to what is going on in the country, the american people are full of anxiety. instead of relieving the anxiety the president goes off and does executive actions like unconstitutional amnesty, epa overreach, gun overreach , and he has the psychology upside down. he increases the anxiety and gun sales go through the roof. the proof is in the pudding. he needs to help us solve some of that anxiety by

getting serious about our strategy with respect to china and the linkagein the lancaster russia and iran. will he ran being alone hegemon or not? and all of our allies want to no that. the saudi's, egypt, jordan, our traditional allies want to know the answer. we have a completely wide-open southern border. according to the "washington post" we have 1000 opena thousand open terror cases across the 50 states and the homeland according to our fbi director call me, and we have a refugee problem. so i went to seminary. we all want to show compassion to folks around the world. we can and should. the experts in the field have said they can treat 60 people, the refugees, we can help 60 people in jordan and syria for the cost of bringing one person here. and so if you want to be compassionate and moral and care for people in the

united states is spending four and a half billion on the syrian refugee problem, so it is not like we are a bunch of taiwan's. and the rest of the world needs life-saving drugs where do you come? to the us because our free market system alone is unique in the sense that it has created. i want to here the president brag about the free market system, rule of law which includes a solid border and property rights that have made is the greatest country in the world. if the left would have pushed that vision 20 years ago the rich countries to found the poor countries would notnow be rich and we would not have these problems. we know the building block and i hope the president will push free market. education, but will the far

left teach that the only pathway for success for those kids is to get a job. that is the only success path, and it business is the bad guy it is a cynical tale for those young kids. i want to give them some real news. they can and better be morally good of this country is in trouble. i wish you would've been optimistic. we appreciate your time. eddie bernice johnson not only a congresswoman but are in. she hasshe has been present for all seven of president obama state of the union speeches. i got the completely wrong. give us your assessment.

>> took the time to review the experiences he had. he also took the time to challenges. and what he pledges to do. and that is the part i got my attention. taking away rights of people and not giving them a free right to vote, that brought me to a very emotional. because this is america. we have achieved so much and yet we are back almost really started before. we have got to listen to that and take on our responsibility to make sure that every citizen who has

the right to vote vote and can help to choose the people that represent them rather than those people drawing people out. that is the only way. and that is got most of my attention. >> the present also took some of the blame for the partisan rancor. >> all of us have somewhere to -- someone to blame. i wish i knew how to do a better job. trying to overcome it. nonetheless experts on how we overcome the attitudes that are already in place and not willing to open up to listen anyone else. in the present took on the responsibility.

i just wish how much more i could do. but i do think that we owe it to this country to do a better job. >> as always it is a pleasure to see you. we appreciate your time. from texas we will go out to the coast to california. judy chu represents. tell us about your district. >> what caught your ear? >> i thought that he was magnificent. he was able to remind us of what we need to do is able to reassure us with regard to the security issues of this world and isil, the fact that we are so active

to combat the threat of terrorism and challenges us to come together and work together. what i most appreciated was the fact that he emphasized the value of diversity. if someone had a muslim american, i feel it's so important when people may be fearful that we don't target anyone group. >> it was a guest? >> an outstanding pakistani american businessman. >> your district is close. what did you hear from your constituents? >> there was a lot of fear he could not imagine that such a thing would happen. they were celebrating a holiday party. it was more shocking than

one could ever imagine because it was so completely unusual and offended our sense of security. more important for us to try to have healing process and to make sure that that, appreciate everybody in our committee including muslim americans. well, soon to be the senior senator from the great state of maryland, senator ben carson spent many years in the senate and house of representatives. what can you take on the president's message? >> the president was pretty clear on the state of the union. proud of the record over the last seven years and he spelled out why in regard to economic growth, job growth, higher energy security.

we have been able to do in reducing the deficit comeau we have been able to do in improving the lives of people of our country, affordability of health care. but he also talked about the future. what we appreciated there are things we can get done. make college more affordable , do things to help technology and advance the science, curing cancer. it was huge bipartisan reaction. we can make our system stronger. it does not mean we will always agree. allowing democratic process. >> eleven senators, democratic senators, democratic members of the house of representatives and several governors including state of maryland. what is your assessment?

>> that the democratic process. politics is a dangerous profession. you never know how voters will feel. obviously there is momentum at election time which is part of the political process. but the elections are not until november. opportunity now to get things done. can we change that? people in the state have great jobs. we just expand clean energy opportunities. struggling to pay their bills, do more so that they don't have to live on the edges. areas in which democrats and republicans worked together. >> faith and harry reid and mitch mcconnell to accomplish that? >> i have faith in america. the president inspired.

the strongest country in the world. >> senator barbara mikulski is resigning a retiring from congress. thank you. and then killing his uncle you are here representing the flint area. what is the current situation? >> it is tough. >> up to 10,000 children have been poisoned with lead three -- use untreated flint river water. finally tonight i see he called in the national guard nothing short of pathetic. and i've asked for federal help, spoke to the present briefly, spoke to the chief of staff.

we just need to get these kids help. >> is he aware of the issue? >> he is. the president did indicate he has been staying up with the situation. i am hopeful they will be able to provide us help. >> what did you think of the presence last state of the union? >> i thought it was a good speech. there is no excuse using the politics of today to avoid actually governing. we should not let 2016 be a lost year. do with the american people are asking. as questions about political reformer particularly important and his call for us to not judge people based upon heritage or religion are important. one of my constituents is a young man who is just now in a ran: of the americans

continuing to be held. i was disappointed the whole house of representatives did not stand in unison in the plot. cannot quite figure that out. >> what is the car industry like? >> a lot smaller than it was but it is back. does not have the presence that it once had but had about 10,000 general motors jobs. an important part of our local economy and i'm grateful for that. >> you both represent manufacturing districts. do you have anything in common? >> i do. ii have a different philosophy when it comes to economics, but we are both great lakes and other community representatives. from time to time we find things in common. >> democrat michigan.

and we want to introduce you to brenda lawrence. >> i have heard all right. many before. >> what is your impression? >> i am a freshman member of congress. this was a different address comeau one with the president spoke to the american people. he really put out a call to the staunch process of democracy. i was moved that when we fail to compromise democracy grinds to a halt. so i spoke to that sense of democracy for all of us.

and he spoke beyond his presidency which was something most presidents don't do. the performance. i found it compelling. he had on some things. we are a great nation. with so many people taking pleasure it is right and thoughtful to bring us back in. >> a citya city that has had to look at issues in a different way because of disasters. is the united states and the position, should it be to look at issues and the approach things in a different way? >> we are coming back. one of the things the

president did not do was take a victory lap. our auto industry which is rebound. leasing bridge loans. they stand here in appreciation and give thanks this country everyone was leaving in droves. and is being repeated all over the country.

>> our education system is challenged. every child would get an education. it is not what america is made about. we have some challenges in detroit and we must take care of it. there are different ways. >> brenda lawrence freshman member of congress to detroit southfield area. thank you for your time. and our coverage continues. we are in statuary hall. five presidents have been inaugurated. it was use of until 1857.

it was in 1864 during the civil war. not a state in the united states. >> give us the long-term perspective. do they matter? >> they do. what is going on. going down the last series.

got a at the mall. but things to agree and disagree with tonight. >> energy and climate change. energy but wind and solar. where we drill the wells begin to flood the market. now we are exporting oil. they are going to create a whole new energy economy. >> governor martinez. talked about is the potential vice presidential pick. >> obviously that's a big state.

from new mexico will move over the houston texas. remind us that we have made great progress. if the budget nearly my three fourths.fourths. millions more have health care that did not have a before. the industry has had his best year ever. i thought it was important to remind us that some of the doom and gloom is little bit exaggerated. america is filled. we say that but we don't always say it's us that we communicate that. >> as someone who represented energy city what

is the current oil situation done to the economy? >> consumers are very pleased regardless of where they are because they not more money in their pocket and can use the cash to do other things which is always good, but we do have layoffs and you're right. at the epicenter with close. and as such we have to be concerned about continuing to have products that come online and make sure we have a lot of work companies to get laid off to the extent it is difficult to get back to optimal capacity. >> these things are cyclical. there going to come back and come through this. while we are oil centered

comeau we have the greatest medical center in the world that is doing very well. and so there are other aspects of our economy that will help. it is not completely diversified that they got it is not where it was. >> has president obama ever visited houston? >> zero, yes. i was proud to be there with him when he came. it was a rainy day, and when i saw air force one land i literally had tears welling in my eyes. it is not something to see air force one. i am proudi am proud of this president and what he has done not only for houston but for the country. he made us feel good about america command i would add this president made it clear that we should not target people, you have a place in

the country, america is a place you can call home if you choose to make america your home. >> final question, sheila jackson lee is online and also represents houston. which one of you represents president and mrs. bush, george and barbara bush over on the west side of houston? >> i don't think either of us. i think they are just out of my district because i am south shields more north and a little bit more to the east. but she will tell you. i do want to say i have a great deal of respect for bush 41. when i was 1st elected he asked that i can't visit with him and gave me some of the best advice i have received. his advice was everyone will have an agenda. the challenge is to -- to develop an agenda for

yourself. but i will always remember him for that. >> how green democratic congressman from houston. you're watching c-span2, live coverage from statuary hall, and we will continue with houston with our own friend sheila jackson lee, democratic member from houston as well. you sat through a lot of these speeches. what do you think? >> while. i just want to simply say well. the president was ready to go. he does not havein any way look like this is his last term or year. i think he is enthused with the greatness of the nation and laid out those kinds of principles for us. he was emboldened empowered and strong. i love the one that talked about not allowing fear to overcome us when it comes to the future. take your chance.

overcome that fear and go straight into the future. that is what america has to do because there are many elements we can be concerned about. an economy that may not be a strong as it should be because they are still feeling the impact of unemployment in spite of the fact that we have had 70 consecutive weeks of job creation. some people are not, if you will, as successful but with the president has said as we have so many variables, democratic system a military they cannot compare to any and we have our future. >> congresswoman, since the pres. has been in office the democrats have lost 69 seats in the house of representatives, 11 democratic senatorial seats. does that say something about his political leadership? >> anytime we take advanced

progressive and unique challenges and passed legislation comeau one of those times was the passing of the affordable care act and one single republican voted for the affordable care act. however, millions of americans have been able to secure healthcare through the affordable care act. of course we have been impacted by terrorism and thethis interpretation of the president and his involvement or noninvolvement securing this nation. we have lost some seats. but we do believe that the american people's lives have been made better with more access to education, the treatment of veterans, the g.i. bill that was passed veterans came on the presence watch.

these things do happen. have another president clinton command we took the house back under president bush. so i think the president's strong. the message he gave us as we need to change or construct, look to compromise. that is a positive message that he gave the united states. >> you usually have a guest appear. did you bring anyone? >> i did. i have been married to this gentleman for nearing 45 years. he is standing right behind me. he has not been to the state of the union. i know my constituency know him well as a major academic and leader in education and houston is thesince the president as a big believer in pre- k and educational opportunity my thought that

he would benefit. if you benefit. people go back and work with his university and committee to boost of education. >> i am sure you get a chance to see your wife every day. it is a pleasure to meet you. >> it's my birthday today. >> it is a big day. and this is c-span2 live coverage from statuary hall getting reaction from members of congress after the president's speech.

a republican from virginia. yorktown area down there near virginia beach. >> on the president talked about the military and the us not needing to be the world's policeman, what was your thought and reaction? >> they certainly are threats around the world. we need to exert ourselves in certain areas of the world to counter aggressive action by countries like russia and china the counter rogue nations like he ran. i think that is counter to what should be happening. a sign of goodwill would be not to take our soul is our sages. i in agreement that our men

and women who serve in the military are the best and brightest and we do need to assert ourselves around the world. we cannot back away from situations where other nations are pushing and aggressive behavior begs our presence they're has to be a balance and the military capability. it is not just about supporting men and women in uniform but doing it in our actions to make sure we properly fund the elements of readiness and make sure they are properly trained we don't put them at unnecessary risk. that is my concern that we do indeed ensure our military readiness.

sequester is moving again, coming back to take away from our ability to do the things necessary for our military to make sure we have a presence around the world. >> you are supportive of and a umf bump? >> am supportive of having a debate. i am supportive of the right directions and what we should do to defeat isil, but the two are interrelated. we need a strategy on what we will do. >> needs to be part of the debate. i am in full agreement that we must debate and have an up-and-down vote. >> congressman, republican from virginia. and we continue talking with members of congress. next jeff ordinary, republican from nebraska.

you were tweeting throughout the speech. >> i was. i feel a little bit guilty about that because i was trying to pay attention as i should, but, but i have been encouraged to do this because constituents seem to like it. it's something i wanted to try to do. >> what was your essential message? >> it is the state of the union, an important american political tradition. the speech was reasonably constructed around for key themes. and the peeling for a new type politics. there was some contradiction. there was a certain irony particularly given the advantage of where i sat. president was directly in my line of sight.

the lines not attacking poverty are a good way to rally all of us around what we must do in the fact that many americans feel that it is stacked against them is true. >> the president took blame for political rancor. the republicans deserve blame? >> of course. the system course. the system is deeply divided and reflective of deep division in america. pres. does not like that kind of politics, but exercise both options himself and has not worked very aggressively to build relationships with the congress. that is democratic complaint was asking me personally.

you have got to reach out and be more personal. everyone has been elected. we have all been through it. >> your state borders iowa. is there any economic benefit to omaha? >> absolutely. the present is flying there tomorrow landing in my district but i did not get invited. he will be in omaha. given the spillover effect because of the size of omaha it is a good dynamic force. >> and this is c-span coverage from statuary hall. now joining us stomping into places the minority whip, democratic whip for the house of representatives.

let's startlet's start with politics. the president took some blame for the political rancor of the last seven years. >> i would not characterize it as taking blame. it took some responsibility. what he also reflected was regret that what he said he wanted to do he could not. he could not bring people together. there was too much rancor and division. and clearly he articulated regret. i don't know that he is the one responsible. republicans decide they are not going to cooperate. as you recall, when asked what is your objective he said the president obama. that is really what has happened. it has not happened all the time.

we had some real accomplishments. i think much of that is labeled by john weiner's stepping aside and setting the table for some bipartisan work that we did on the budget, education, on other matters by getting in on the post on. we would hope we could do that. i don't think he's a fault. i think he reached out at the beginning an attempt to forge bipartisan compromise. >> what can you and nancy pelosi and steve's police kevin mccarthy and speaker ryan do to bridge the bipartisan's.y% >> he would say that you and i have had the opportunity to work together.

we need to do more of that. it worked on export import. we have to have a discharge. the speaker in the leader did work together i don't think that would happen without the speaker set the table that we didn't get it done. that didn't leave us in crisis. but what we can all do mccarthy is my interface is the number two. can work together focusing

always on what we disagree on. not have a partisan agenda on the floor child left behind which we have been able to get done got done a reauthorization. we need to keep doing that. >> you have been here through five presidents, several election years. what is your assessment of getting congressional action on issues done in an election year? >> it is tougher than with the speaker wants to do is set the table for the next president. come up with ideas that are not necessarily compromises butter with the republicans would do if elected.